Williams unveils 2017 season FW40 Formula One car in first pics

William Martini Racing has unveiled its 2017 Formula One car – ahead of other manufacturers and its official debut on February 25.

The new FW40 – a name chosen to mark the team’s 40th anniversary and as such, skipping the FW39 desgination – will continue to be powered by Mercedes engines. It sports the same Martini livery used by the team since 2014.

If you think the new car looks significantly more dynamic than the previous season’s racer, that’s because new 2017 regulations mandate the use of a wider, sweptback front wing, fatter tyres and a lower, wider rear wing with a raked profile.

Its body is also now 100mm wider, measuring 1,400mm, while a wider track brings the car’s maximum allowed width to two meters. Finally, there will also be larger barge boards and a shorter under tray. The new rules are expected to provide faster racing.

In terms of William’s 2017 driver lineup, Valtteri Bottas has been drafted to replaced 2016 champion, Nico Rosberg who retired days after securing the title. Felipe Massa will assume the role of lead driver, while Canadian rookie, Lance Stroll will take up the second seat.